INSURANCE PREMIUM

We just caught Mike Martin on his very last day at Ackerman & Co. It's a bittersweet farewell for the 49-year-old, who's not only leaving the company that gave him a CRE career, but he's also leaving the industry altogether. And going into insurance. Mike, who helped Ackerman develop its Tramore Point mixed-use project in Cobb as well as shuttled the leasing efforts for its successful Gateway Industrial flip, is scheduled to open a State Farm office in Paulding County later this year after 25 years in CRE, shifting hisprofessionallife to something he feels will have more opportunity to create income for this soon-to-be father. ?I am in development and land speculation. And I just don't see the market coming back until 2015 or later,? he says. Regardless, it was a tough choice to have to make. ?I feel like I'm breaking up with my first girlfriend.?